Ned O'Sullivan (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Yesterday on the Order of Business, I raised the matter of the 600 so-called teaching jobs that were announced to great fanfare in recent weeks. The Deputy Leader, in response, indicated her understanding that these would be full-time posts. Having checked my sources, I am quite certain that a sizeable number will not, in fact, be permanent, full-time jobs but rather additional hours allocated to certain schools. As things stand, a significant number of teachers at both primary and secondary levels are unemployed or depending on substitute and temporary work. In addition, a large number of graduates are due to come on stream early next summer. Putting out figures that are not accurate only excites false hope for graduates and their parents.